A follow-up study of remote trauma teleconsultations

We conducted a follow-up study of patients who had attended a nurse-led min or accident and treatment service (MATS) and who had participated in a tele consultation. Over three and a half years, 31,510 patients had attended the MATS unit and 1854 patients (5.9%) of these had participated in a telecons ultation. Of the 1854 telemedicine patients, 1199 had been referred to hosp ital or clinic and 1153 had actually attended. Retrospective examination of the relevant hospital records showed that in 25 cases (2%) the original te lediagnosis was considered incorrect at face-to-face review and that treatm ent was either begun or changed in 264 cases (23%). All patients, including those discharged home after the teleconsultation, were sent a questionnair e about any changes to their injury. Of the 655 patients discharged home, a questionnaire response was obtained from 598 (91%). Following discharge, 4 3 of these patients had sought help from another health-care provider (the majority from their general practitioner). Of the 46 patients referred to h ospital who did not keep their follow-up appointments, questionnaire result s were obtained from 35 (76%). Nine of these patients had sought help from another health-care provider (the majority from their general practitioner) but there had been no change in diagnosis or treatment. Our findings sugge st that teleconsultations are an effective means of delivering minor injuri es care.